Antenna system



May 14, 1940. c. w. MARTIN ANTENNA S YS TEM Filed Jam` 25. 1935 fw \\\iM\\ /HE CARY wMxsffLOR- ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTENNA SYSTEM 3Claims.

rIhis invention relates to valvular controlling means. and particularlyto an improved valve especially designed and adapted for controlling theoperation oi an extensible radio antenna or similar device of thecharacter employed to provide a collecting or radiating system for radioapparatus installed in a motor vehicle, and which is adapted to beretracted into the body of the vehicle when not in use.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a valvemechanism which permits motivation of an extensible aerial under theinfluence of the reduced pressure generated in the intake manifold of aninternal combustion engine, and which enables selective connection ofthe manifold to appropriate actuating mechanism by which the antenna maybe extended and retraeted at Will, but which is so arranged as to returnautomatically to a sealing position in which the vacuum line to theintake manifold is tightly closed oilV to prevent disturbance ofpressure relations in the manifold, under all conditions and at alltimes. except while the valve is being manually moved to or positivelyheld by the operator in an actuating position.

Another object is to provide such a valve mechnnism, especially adaptedfor the indicated purpose. which is so arranged that the reducedpressure in the intake manifold to which the assembly is connected actsupon the valve in a manner to increase the tightness with which itmaintains the valve in closed and sealed relation when in its normal"oi" position.

Stili further objects will become apparent from reading other parts ofthe specication and from perusing the drawing made a part hereof.

The inventor herewith expressly sets forth that the invention hereindisclosed is not to limit the scope of its application. nor the kind ofelements and structure used to teach one how to use, make and vend thesame, except as limited by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l shows in elevation an extensible and retractable antenna unit ofa variety with which my improved valve mechanism is adapted to be used.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal and substantially ccntrai view of a valvemechanism designed to control the extension and retraction of theantenna. unit taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view oi the valve.

Fig. 4 shows cross section taken substantially along the line 4 4 of'Fig 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The antenna unit designated in the drawing by the numeral l may be anyoi the types shown in applicant's copending application, Serial Number158,129 filed August 9th, 1937, or any other type which is constructedto have its antenna rod extended and retracted by fluid pressure.

Since speciiic details of the antenna unit form no part of the presentinvention, the description thereof, will be confined to a disclosure ofits general arrangement and principles of operation.

The casing 2 is preferably made of some insulating material such assynthetic resin or plastic of the character sold under the trade-namesBakelite or Catalin," or it may be of hard rubber or other materialsuitable for the purpose. Adjustably ilxed to the top of the casing aretwo biased cushioning and clamping elements 3 and 4. between which isclamped the roof 5 oi the vehicle, or other housing within which theantenna device is concealed.

Within the casing is a reciprocabie piston or similar element 6 which isiitted to the walls of the casing in a manner to prevent fluid leakingbetween them. The piston is fixed to an antenna rod l which isreciprocable with the piston so that it may be 'extended from andwithdrawn into the casing 2. A ball 8 is fixed to the top of the rod andrests upon the top of element 3 when the rod is drawn into the casing.'I'he rod and ball are made of material which is a good conductor ofelectricity and are preferably plated with chromium or otherwise treatedto protect the metallic rod from the weather, and also to enhance itsappearance.

A flexible wire or cable 8, round or fiat. emerges from the bottom ofthe casing and serves the lead-in conductor to the radio set of thevehicle or other place where the radio set may be situated. The wire ispreferably well insulated exteriorly of the casing but may not beinsulated within the casing. if the latter is formed of insulatingmaterial. Within the casing. the wire is flat or ribbon-like andrecessed into the wall of the casing. The wire 9 makes slidingconnection with the bottom end of the rod as by spring clips, etc.. (seeapplicants copending application) to provide electrical connection withthe antenna rod.

Teats I0 and il provide fluid conducting communication to the spacewithin tube 2 above and below the piston B. When suction is appliedabove the piston. via teat I0. atmospheric pressure acts upon the bottomoI the piston via the teat II, to raise the piston, and extend theantenna rod, whereas, when suction is applied to teat I I, atmosphericpressure enters the cylindei through teat I0, to cause the piston tofall and thus retract the antenna rod.

The valve which controls the operation of the antenna device comprises arelatively heavy cylindrical casing I2 having vent perforations I3 andIii, and detent hole I5 along the bottom side thereof and perforationsI6, I1 and I8 along the top side thereof. The last named group of per-Iorations are threaded to receive the threaded nipples I9 and 2I bywhich connections to the antenna unit are provided and nipple 2D whichis connected to a portion of the engine within which a reduced pressureis developed when the engine is in operation. One end of the casing I2is tightly closed by a plug 22, while at the other end. a threaded plugfitting 23 is provided having an elongated reduced part 2-1 protrudingtherefrom and threaded to receive the lock nuts 25 and 2E which serve asmeans for holding the valve structure to the dash 21 of the vehicle. Thebore 28 of the valve casing I2 is shown as square, and iskcarefullymachined to provide a smooth surface to receive a piston valve 29 whichsnugly engages the walls thereof to form an air seal. While the engineis running, suction in tube 20 will draw the piston valve toward thesuction port to maintain a tight seal between the piston and the top olthe valve chamber. This tightly closes off the suction line to preventleakage into the intake manifold and thus prevent interference withproper operation of the engine. The piston valve has a slot-like cavity3D at the top thereof suiciently long to connect the perforations IB andI1, or I1 and I8 depending upon the position oi the piston.

In order to keep the piston in a central position. springs 3| and 32 areemployed, one located at each end of the piston These springs are ofequal size and strength, and so always return the piston to a centralposition when the finger knob 33 is not under manual control. One end ofthe spring 3I rests against the plug 22, and the other ond in a recess34 at one end of the piston. The other spring 32 has one end restingagainst the piston. and the other end in a recess 35 in the tting 23, v

The tting 23 has a bore 36 throughout its entire length to snuglyreceive a sliding rod 31 which carries at its outer end a nger knob 33,attached thereto by a set screw 33'. The inner end oi the rod 31 passesthrough the spring 32 to engage one ond of the piston 29. This end ofthe rod is provided with a stud 38 having an enlarged circular or discend 39, and the corresponding end of the piston is provided with a slot40 suieiently broad to receive thc stud 3B, and with recenser',groove-like portions 4I on both sides of the slot to receive theenlarged portion 39 of the sturl. By this construction, the rod 31 canbe attached to the piston by merely sliding it into position as shown.

In order to frictionally and releasably hold the piston 29 centrally inthe bore 2B, a detent ball 42 is provided of suicient size to partiallysink into the perforation I5, and is always urged into such position bya spring 43.

The tube I9 of the valve is connected to one of the teats II) or II ofthe antenna unit I and the tube 2I connected to the other teat. 'l'iietube 20 is connected to the intake manifold of the automobile engine orto any other means winch has a source of negative pressures or vacuumpower.

When the finger knob 33 is not under manual force, the piston 29 of thevalve is held in a central position ol' the bore 28 by the springs 3|and 32, and also by the ball 42.

With the piston in such position, the cavity 30 and hence tube 20 areshut ofi from tubes I9 and 2 I, thus allowing the antenna rod to remainin the position in which it is left by the operator in the last movementof the piston, for instance, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Now, if the operator pulls the knob 33 outwardly. or away from dash 21,tubes 2I and 20 would be placed in communication, and assuming that thetube 2I is connected to teat II and tube I9 to teat ID. suction would beapplied beneath the piston, and atmospheric pressure above it, via tubeI9 and vent I3, to cause the antenna rod 1 to be drawn into the casing2. The piston 6 may be stopped at any desired position between the topand bottom of the casing by merely releasing the knob 33 so that thespring 32 can return the valve element 29 to the central or neutralposition.

Reverse movement of the knob 33, or moving it toward the dash, wouldobviously raise the piston and antenna rod because such a positioning ofthe valve piston 29 would bring tubes I9 and 20 into communication so asto apply suction above the piston 6, and atmospheric pressure below thepiston I5 via tube 2I and vent I4.

Having described one form of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A valve adapted to control the proiecton and retraction of anextensible aerial or the lik 't comprising a valve casing havingsubstnntiall" aligned ports spacedly arranged along one side thereof,including a centrally disposed eduction port and an inlet port on eachside of the eductionport. a valve member slidable but non-rotatable insaid casing and having a slot in its side facing said ports. said slotbeing movable by actuation of the valve to connect either of said inletports to said eduction port, the slot having end and side walls, betngnarrower than the valve member'. and being closed except on its sidefacing said ports, said slot also being insuflcient in length to reacheither of said inlet ports when the valve is in centered position,whereby when so centered the slot is connected only to the eductionport. and reduced pressure in said port may cause a pressuredifferential upon opposite "des of said valve to urge the same intosealing cn gagement with the side of the valve casing in which saideduction port is located, to seal said eduction port.

2. In a valve construction as set forth in claim l, spring meansyieldably maintaining said valve member in said centered position.

3. In combination with a vehicle having a body. and engine and a portionappurtenant the same within which pressure variance occurs duringoperation of the engine, an aerial having an actuable portionprojectable through and from the body end retractible thereinto, saidactuable portion being adapted to be frictionally held in any ofvariously projected positions of adjustment, and controllable means forconnecting said actu-able portion of the aerial to said portion withinwhich the aforementioned pressure variance occurs, including a valveincorporating a casing having an eduction port and a plurality of inletports, one located on either side ol the eduction port, said eductionport being connected to said portion within which pressure varianceoccurs, and said other ports being connected to said aerial portion t0actuate the same when connected to the eduction port, a valvc membermov- 5 able across said ports und having a bridging opening adapted toconnect either of said inlet ports to said eduction port, said bridgingopening being closed at its bottom and ends to create a. differentialpressure upon opposite sides of the vaive member. whereby the valve isforced against the casing by reduced pressure in the eduction port, andspring means normally returning said valve member t0 and maintaining itin n position in which said bridging opening communicates only with saideduction port.

CARY W. MARTIN.

